Frederick j



(No Model.)

P. J. HUBBARD 8: J. POTTER.

POCKET TOBAOGOGASE.

No. 461,578. Patented 00t.20, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J. HUBBARD AND JAMES POTTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS TO \VILLIAM H. CRAIG, OF SAME PLACE.

POCKET TO BACCO-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,578, dated October 20, 1891.

Application filed December 2, 1890. Serial No. 373,324. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK J. HUB- BARD and JAMES POTTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pocket Tobacco-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in the class of pocket-cases for plug-tobacco which are provided with cutters for severing from the plug with each operation a desired portion for use; and our object is to provide such a device of an improved construction, which will render it more convenient and desirable for its purpose than those devices of the same class hitherto employed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of our improved device; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same enlarged; Fig. 3, a'perspective view of the lever and cutting-blade details; Fig. 4, a view similar to the last, but showing a modified form of cutter; and Fig. 5, a perspective view of the open end of the case, showing a modified construction thereof.

The case A is formed with two compartments-one A for a plug of tobacco, and the other A of smaller dimensions, which may be used for storing matches, toothpicks, or other small articles. The compartment A is open at its end if, and the compartment A may be open at its end 5, as shown, or at one of its sides, as desired. The upper edge of the opening at t is formed with a projection 25' or head, which extends a short distance-a trifle less than one-half its transverse areabeyond the adjacent portions of the edges of the sides of the case.

B is a bifurcated lever, comprising a top plate q and two forks or side plates 19 p, fulcrumed near their free ends to the sides of the case near the end t of the latter, and carrying between them at their ends a transverse cutter-blade 0. The lever B swings from the raised position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 down until its plate (1 meets the upper side of the case, causing the cutter to move across the open end if and close the latter.

Within the compartment A is a springactuated plunger n, which is forced by its spring normally to the end t of the case. Upon the upper side of the case adjacent to the end t is a plate m, of springy metal, provided with an elongated slot m. The plate m is adjustably secured in place by means of a set-screw m which passes through the slot m into the top of the case. The plate is adjustable for a distance limited by the length of its slot toward and from the end if of the case, and near its edge adjacent to the said end it is corrugated to afford a transverse recess m A plate Z, bent, preferably, to the form shown to aiford the parts Z Z at substantially right angles to each other, is provided with a transverse slot Z close to the end of the part 1 which is passed over the free end of the plate m, to cause the end portion of the part I to extend through the recess m and be confined by the spring-plate m against the case. The plate Z is thus hinged in place and may be swung from one to the other of the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, the resilient quality of the plate m causing the plate Z to be held with desired firmness in either of the positions shown.

In operation the plug of tobacco is inserted in the compartment A against the resistance of the spring-plunger, which is forced toward the rear end of the said compartment. The plate or stop Z is normally in the position shown in Fig. 1, and need only be swung to the position shown in Fig. 2 when it is desired to insert a plug into the case. hen the lever B is down against the case and the cutter across the end 25, the cutter acts as a stop to prevent the plug'being forced out at the said end. When the lever is raised to the position shown the plug is forced out of the case until its end strikes the stop Z. As the lever is pressed toward the case again the cutterblade severs from the plug that much thereof as extends between the end of the case and stop I. On loosening the set-screw m the plate on may be moved and'thestop I adjusted toward or from the end of the case so that the length of the plug severed at each operation may be what the operator desires. \Vhen once adjusted the position of the stop need not be changed. As the lever is pressed toward the case the knife-edge of the cutter strikes the head 25' and further pressure causes the cutter to yield slightly and pass over the head. The shearing el'fcct thus produced insures the perfect severance of the plug.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, which shows an open end tot a case A, (and for purposes of illustration inverted,) instead of the beaded edge the case is provided with a pro jection t in the form of a block formed upon or set into its end and beveled down from front to back, not to interfere with the forward movement of the plug of tobacco, and from one side to the other, so that as the cut ter is forced through the plug it will out after the manner of shears from one side to the other and th us insure complete severance.

The modification illustrated in Fig. tshows a cutter composedof two narrow bladesmhich out against or past each other. The under blade is upon the free ends of the lever B and the upper blade between levers Lt, which are fulcrumed above the lever 15 on the outside of the case. Upon the lever l5 adjacent to its fulcrum are lugs m, which enter and engage sockets on the levers 00 adjacent to their fulcrums, the nature of the engagement being such that when the lever 13 is forced down to move its blade upward the lovers :1: are turned to force their blade down ward until the two blades meet or pass each other.

\Vhen the compartment A is open at its ends, as shown, the plate qol' thelever B may be formed with the flange y to close the said open end when the lever is down. One or both sides of the lever may be milled, as shown at ,2, to afford a rough surface against: wlnch to strike matches when desired.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, a pocketwcase for plugtobacco having an open end I, a stop Lhinged to the case and extending over the said open end, a lever fulcrumed near the said open end on the outside of the case, thereby forming a long arm and a short arm, and a cutterblade upon the short arm of the lever adapted by manipulating the lever from its long arm to out across the end 15 between the end and stop, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a pocket-case for plugtobacco havirg an open end t, a hinged stop l on the case and adjustable upon the latter toward and from the said open end. and extending over said end, a lever fulcru med near the said end on the outside of the case, there by forming a long arm and a short arm, and a cutter-blade upon the short arm of the lever adapted by manipulating the lever from its long arm to cut across theend 6 between the said end and stop, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a pocket-ease for plugtobacco havin an open end 6, a projection t on an edge of the said open end, a lever ful crumed on the outside of the case near the said open end, thereby forming along arm and a short arm, and a cutter-blade on the short arm of thelever adapted by manipulating the lever from its long arm to cut across the open end If and then across the said projection, substantially as described.

FREDERICK J. HUBBARD. JAMES PO'P'lER. In presence of J'. W. Dvnnxron'rn, M. J. Fnos'r. 

